2005 Ford Escape Body Problems
- 351
- Owner complaint records in our dataset
Records are owner complaints, not a measured failure rate.
Owner complaint recordsComplaint records reflect reports in our dataset and do not measure how frequently the problem occurs across all vehicles.
Among these 351 stored complaint records:
- 2 indicate a crash
- 0 indicate injury
- 0 indicate fire
What owners report
- wheel well · 80 records
- passenger side · 36 records
- rear passenger · 31 records
- rear wheel · 28 records
- completely rusted · 21 records
- right rear · 20 records
Mileage in stored records
| Band | Records |
|---|---|
| 100–150k mi | 157 |
| 60–100k mi | 81 |
| 150–400k mi | 66 |
| 30–60k mi | 12 |
| 1–30k mi | 3 |
Complaint records
Owner-submitted complaint content, presented as stored.
Body
My 2005 ford escape's passenger side rear wheel well completely rusted out and the shock broke through to the inside of the vehicle as it was being driven! This is completely dangerous - we could have been severely injured. I searched this issue on-line, and it is extremely prevalent on these vehicles. Ford needs a recall on this - it is a known issue. When i took my vehicle to a ford dealer, i was told this is a…
ODI 10701825
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that the rear driver side wheel well was corroded. The contact mentioned that a thumping noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. The contact stated that due to the failure, the struts were exposed. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer. The failure mileage was 140,000.
ODI 10694426
Body
While driving down the freeway i hit a small bump in the road and heard a loud clunk from the right rear area. I wasn't sure what it was and was within 5 miles of home. The rest of the trip home every time i came to a small bump's the clunk was getting worse. I looked in the right rear fender well and noticed the whole area around the right rear shock is completely rusted out. *tr
ODI 10694270
Body · Suspension
While driving the car, whenever we would hit a bump of any kind the passenger side rear of the car made a horrible rattling/banging noise. I took it to the dealer and they told and showed me where the part that connected the shock to the wheel well had pretty much rusted away and was no longer safe to drive. The service writers and the body man all said this is a very common issue with this year and model. They…
ODI 10693892
Body · Suspension
I was driving and began to hear a loud noise i stopped and looked, the fender well had fallen half way off. It was rusted all the way through. I had to call a tow truck and still cannot use my car because i cant afford to replace this part. Shouldn't ford be responsible for this it is a flaw in the body. *tr
ODI 10704731
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. While driving at various speeds, a loud banging noise emitted from the rear of the vehicle. After inspecting the vehicle, it was discovered that the passenger side rear wheel well was rusted and corroded, causing the shock mount to make contact with the subframe. The cause of the failure was not diagnosed. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was…
ODI 10725942
Body · Suspension
The right rear wheel well and shock mount is completely rusted out. When i bought the vehicle used, i drove it and heard a slight clunking somewhere in the rear end of the vehicle. I thought maybe the shocks were bad. I continued to drive it, hoping to replace the shocks. Recently the noise became very loud and disturbing. I looked at the shock area and discovered the whole area on the right rear wheel well and…
ODI 10702525
Body · Suspension
Had rear shocks replaced on my 2005 ford escape and was told that mounts for the shocks are rusted out. The shocks are detached from the frame due to poor design by ford. The car is not safe to drive as the shock bounces into the rear interior when moving. There is a recall from 2001 - 2004 escapes but not 2005! For the exact same problem! *tr
ODI 10683128
Body · Suspension
The right rear shock plunged through the right rear wheel well (rusted away) and rattles at low speeds. Steering pulls to left and shakes.
ODI 10690575
Body · Suspension
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. The contact stated that the rear passenger side wheel well was corroded and deteriorated. Also, the contact mentioned that the shock mount fractured. The contact stated that the failure caused the shock mount to puncture the trunk. The contact stated that there was a loud noise each time the vehicle drove over a bump due to the failure. The vehicle was taken to an independent…
ODI 10690580
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. While driving various speeds, a loud noise emitted from the rear end of the vehicle when the brake pedal was depressed. The failure recurred whenever the brake pedal was depressed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and they informed that the rear of the frame was completely rusted. The vehicle was currently being repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the…
ODI 10693801
Body
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 ford escape. While driving at an unknown speed, there was an abnormal noise coming from the rear passenger side of the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed that the rear passenger side wheel well needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The vin was not included in nhtsa campaign number: 14v165000 (structure). The manufacturer was not made aware…
ODI 10672132
Body · Suspension
This car has 80000miles on it and is totally rusted out in the rear passenger wheel well and shock tower. I have been quoted 5000 to fix the car to meet safety standards. I can see the tire all the way thru the metal.
ODI 10854416
Body · Suspension · Unknown Or Other
We noticed a rattling/banging noise coming from the right rear of vehicle, my wife rode in the rear seat and could feel the shock mount hitting against the back of the interior trim panel. Looking into the wheel well, we could see where the wheel housing had completely rusted out, revealing the interior. The upper shock mount can be wiggled by hand. Today 12/31/2014, i went to see my "friends" at our local ford…
ODI 10669429
Body · Suspension
I had my car inspected today and had them look at an issue of a banging sound i was hearing in the back passenger side area. The mechanic found extensive rust and rot in the rear passenger side wheel well and the strut was almost ready to come off. The mechanic commented he has seen this issue several times with this model. I see that ford recalled 2001 to 2005 model years, but not the 2005. From doing research…
ODI 10668910
Body · Suspension
Beautiful, well-maintained 05 ford escape - rare 5 speed manual, 4 cyl, awd. Always garaged and cleaned. Opened plastic bin in rear compartment, passenger side, to store tools. Noticed small cracks and daylight in wheel well. Just below and behind shock mount. Applied light pressure. Entire section pushed through. Completely rusted away. Held in place only by rubberized undercoating. 119k. Based on all these…
ODI 10668565
Body
I heard a loud banging noise coming from the right rear area of my car. Upon inspecting underneath, was dismayed to see the body of the car by the tire crumbling with rust. Apparently the banging is from the shock absorber having broken thru the wheel well, and is now hitting the back hatch area. Also, during an oil change, the service company removed a bracket that holds my exhaust in place. Upon inspecting that…
ODI 10669521
Body
While driving my vehicle, i heard a loud thumping noise in the back. Upon closer inspection, i saw that the passenger side rear wheel well was rusted through the body of the storage area. It appears the shock is in danger of coming loose. *tr
ODI 10664926
Body · Suspension · Wheels
Heard thumping noise on passenger side rear. Took it to check it out and wheel well completely rusted out and unsafe to drive. *tr
ODI 10662844
Body
Rear passenger side was making loud noise when driving over any type of bumps, holes, thought it was the shocks but it was the shock tower was rusted out and needs repaired. $1400 to repair, this is a common problem on the ford escapes and there is no recall at this time. *tr
ODI 10664340
Body · Wheels
The entire passenger rear wheel well is completely rusted out & is no longer safe to drive; possible steering control. 2001-2004 ford escapes in the "salt belt" states were recalled for the exact same reason. *tr
ODI 10670118
Body · Suspension
My vehicle has severe corrosion in the driver side rear wheel house. The corrosion has allowed the left rear shock absorber to fail to effectively dampen the suspension movement (its purpose). The problem is very prevalent on ford escapes, mercury mariners, and mazda tributes. For nhtsa to determine if this is truly a safety issue, your will need to secure a 01 - 06 escape, remove one rear shock absorber (worse case…
ODI 10664177
Body · Suspension · Wheels
I was driving my 2005 ford escape when i started hearing a banging noise coming from the passenger side rear of my vehicle. After a few days the banging got louder and my escape seemed to be hitting hard in the back like my shock wasn't working. Which my husband had changed them about 3 or 4 months prior so i thought that was odd. After driving her today and the banging getting worse i had my husband look at my back…
ODI 10662284
Body · Steering · Suspension
Severe rust right rear shock tower unsafe to drive. *tr
ODI 10660916
Body
The vehicle began making a cluncking noise coming from the rear end. After inspection, i found nothing wrong. Continuing with the clunck noise, i had to remove the jack to eliminate that as the source. The noise continued. I removed the rear panel and found the entire rear wheel well rusted so badly i could see straight through to the tire. It looked like, at any moment, the entire rear passenger side could…
ODI 10717237